Researchers have successfully transplanted a genetically modified pig heart into a baboon, which has survived for more than a year. This gives a new ray of hope for the researchers to duplicate this procedure to mankind.
Pigs are of similar size as humans. Their organs, which are structurally similar to ours, can therefore fit into our bodies. In fact, pigs are chosen over primates even though the latter are believed to be our distant ancestors. The reason is that humans and primates are susceptible to the same viruses and diseases, therefore posing much higher risks of disease transmission during transplants. To deal with the issue of rejection, which can be so violent that the implanted organ will be destroyed in less than an hour, scientists have genetically modified five cloned piglets to make their organs invisible to the immune system. Moreover, they have added a gene to the piglets to prevent blood clots from forming around the foreign tissue.
Pig transplants could save millions of human lives as there would be no shortage of organs. In Hong Kong, there are about 3,000 patients waiting for organ transplants in order to live on. The supply of human organs is far from enough. Pigs are fast-growing animals and we can therefore have a steady supply of organs off the shelf. Scientists are optimistic about such development, believing that it stands a high chance of happening in the very near future.
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